Kogi State Government on Friday threatened to descend heavily on schools and principals that abetted examination malpractice.
Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones, issued the threat while distributing free Chemistry and Physics textbooks to 95 public schools in Kogi West Senatorial District in Kabba.
He noted that the West African Examination Council, WAEC, already derecognised 61 secondary schools in Kogi over examination malpractice at the 2022 West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examinations.
He noted that WAEC similarly complained about examination malpractice in Kogi in 2019 when it declared that 51 secondary schools were involved.
The commissioner said things got better in 2020 and in 2021 when the number of derecognised schools reduced drastically from 51 to only one.
This, he said, resulted from serious warning by the Ministry of Education to principals of schools coupled with commitment and determination of the state government to halt examination malpractice.
Jones lamented that on Thursday, WAEC wrote to the ministry to complain that 61 secondary schools were involved in malpractice at the 2022 examinations.
“We shall sanction any principal found wanting in this unwholesome behaviour trying to tarnish the good image and reputation we have built in the conduct of examinations.
“The Ministry of Education will set up a committee to investigate the involvement of principals in this disgraceful act before we sanction appropriately to serve as deterrent to others.
“The state government cannot be investing hugely in education and some people will be sabotaging our efforts.
“We are aware that WAEC charges registration fees of N23,000, but principals charge above N40,000, to include `logistics’ so as to indulge in examination malpractice.
“We are not unaware; we will curb the situation by sanctioning whoever is found wanting according to the 2020 Kogi State Educational Law.
“We will kill `miracle centres’ in Kogi; we will halt all forms of examination malpractice, and some erring schools will be shut,’’ the commissioner warned.
Jones also frowned at the proliferation of illegal private tertiary institutions in the state and assured that the ministry would clamp down on them soon.
NAN
